Brad Pitt and The Pink Project in New Orleans
Brad Pitt is one good looking man, he is also a knowledgeable fan of architecture, particularly that of Frank Lloyd Wright, and has helped the National Trust for Historic Preservation raise money to purchase Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House for $7.5 million.
The Pink Project
While filming on a set in New Orleans, actor Brad Pitt became seduced by the powerful image of a pink-clad CGI house within the lush Louisiana surroundings. He saw the pink structure as a metaphor, representing the future of renewed housing for those displaced by the recent disasters. Thus the birth of the Pink Project.
Image Source: Archinect
Prototype, clad and lit at night. Image Source: Archinect
These pink shelters are temporary, the ultimate goal of the Pink Project is to gather enough momentum via art and eventually into a successful fund raising effort for the Make it Right 9 project to construct 150 actual houses in New Orleans Ninth Ward. Thirteen architectural firms are involved in the project, many of which are donating their services. Pitt and philanthropist Steve Bing have each committed to matching $5 million in donations.
The proposed houses are being designed with an emphasis on sustainability and affordability, with the hope that the project can and will be replicated throughout the city. Below are some images of the proposed houses.
Image Source: Make It Right
Image Source: Make It Right
Image Source: Make It Right
I can’t help but notice some similarity in the overall design proposal by the 13 architects with the traditional Malay house, the obvious fact that most of these houses are raised above the ground.
A main characteristic of a typical kampung house includes the obvious fact that it is raised on stilts or piles. This was to avoid wild animals, to be above floods, to deter thieves and for added ventilation. – Wikipedia
A Traditional Malay House. Image Source: Makan Guru
I’ve been to a few Traditional Malay houses and based on my experience, these houses are indeed sustainable, the raised piles allows maximum ventilation and it doubles up as a preventive measurement for all tropical storms and floods.
Back to Brad Pitt, some people are annoyed with the whole idea of him wanting to be an architect and something about him went to school for five years and did all that studying stuff. As for me, I don’t have any issues with Brad Pitt spreading the architecture gospel, what harm can it bring if more people are aware of their surroundings and responsibility?
Brad Pitt’s part time hobby is my job.
Tags: Brad Pitt, Kampung, Make it Right, Malay Traditional House, New Orleans, Sustainability, The Pink ProjectRelated Articles
Similar posts you may be interested in based on past browsing
In Kartina’s Wake
Photorealisim A Daily Dose has a great feature on a series of photographs by Chris Jordan entitled “In Katrina’s Wake: Portraits of Loss from an Unnatural Disaster.”
It took years for mankind to build New Orleans but god wipes it off the earth within seconds. Maybe it’s a sign from god that we should start recycling and take care of the environment.
This reminds me of ecological architecture and its impact on the environment, architects should play a role in reducing the need of mechanical ventilation, well known architects through out the world tend to emphasize on coming up tectonic design, and rarely do they mention anything about ecological friendly design as their main theme. At least 2002 Pritzker Prize won by Glenn Murcutt of Australia. Hopefully my country – Malaysia’s very own international architect Ken Yeang would be short listed in the future for the nomination for his ecologically friendly architecture.
Tags: Ecological Architecture, Kartina, Ken Yeang, New Orleans
Related Articles
Similar posts you may be interested in based on past browsing
